Thoughts From The Barn/ essays

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

blast it - migraine troubles

We've had a week of unusually high temperatures for this time of year, to the degree that I decided not to even try to ride the Big Bay until the hot spell broke. He's still shedding and between heat and rain and his post-chiro days off, we haven't ridden at all since I got back from my writing retreat time.

Yesterday it was 90 and there was a heat haze over the entire farm, but last night the cold front moved in and it was wonderfully cool this morning. I had coffee and then went out to ride. Keil Bay came directly into the barn when I got out there, as I had told him last night we'd be riding this morning. He was clearly ready.

I did a good grooming and decided the flies are getting annoying enough to warrant putting on his Summer Whinnies. I'm out of practice getting them on and the first one was a bit of a struggle. The easiest way to do it is to use a small plastic bag over the hoof and slide the sock over, then remove the bag and adjust.

Keil Bay loves his Summer Whinnies. He knows from experience that they provide total comfort in fly season, and he actively participates in helping me get them on. I think in the midst of getting that first one on I must have strained really hard while my head was down, and worked up a sweat, and who knows what triggers migraines sometimes, but suddenly there it was, full blown.

I knew I wasn't going to leave him with one Summer Whinny on and three legs bare, so I took a break and brushed him for a minute, then did the second one. On I went, one leg at a time, taking breaks between each as the migraine worsened. At one point I considered curling up in a stall! After the last one I gave him a peppermint, removed his halter, and told him I'd be back as soon as I could. He looked handsome with his four white socks and his freshly-groomed red bay self.

In the house now, having taken my homeopathic remedy Belladonna, with an ice pack on my neck. The Belladonna works almost instantly to take the severe pain away, and it works really well for the pre-migraine visual auras too. I'm down to a dull ache.

This is the first time I've ever developed a migraine while in the barn, and I didn't like it one bit. Pondering what triggered it. Hormonal shifts, extreme changes in weather and barometric pressure, certain kinds of intense light, and oh, yes, I haven't eaten anything yet today.

Sigh.

The worst thing at the moment is that I'm not out there riding!

Tell me about what you do when something physical keeps you from riding. Misery loves company! :)

UPDATE:

I went back out and rode and it was gorgeous. A light breeze, mid-sixties, and when I got Keil Bay tacked up and we sauntered out of the barn, I glanced back at him and I swear he was 5 years old again. Our combined age is 81 but we are forever young. :) Horses are the best remedy ever.

Arlene, I forgot Keil's peppermint so as soon as I dismounted we came very quickly to the feed room to get it. I reached in his peppermint bin and pulled out a double! Sometimes there are two in one little pack so today he got both of them. :)